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Zwift screen - 1RideLondon route, including Box Hill, comes to Zwift this summer
If you use Zwift and are training for the Prudential RideLondon sportive this year (provided you were lucky and get an entry) then you’ll soon be able to train on the course virtually. Well, some of the course; a shorter version of the route is planned, rather than a faithful recreation of the entire 100-mile route, will be created.
The RideLondon route covers 100-miles and starts at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and threads its way through London and out into the Surrey Hills, and ascends the iconic Box Hill, and not-quite-so-iconic Leith Hill.
Rather than recreate this entire route, Zwift is working on a short replica version of the route, but it should hopefully offer some of the highlights of the route, such as Box Hill and Leith Hill, the nicer and more enjoyable parts of the course.
The route is currently in development and scheduled for release this summer. The RideLondon takes place on Sunday 31st July, so hopefully Zwift will release it well before then so participants can have time to train, or just recce, the route in advance.
Regardless, Zwift is confident the route will be hit with British cyclists, who have been quick to embrace the virtual training software.
“London is the world’s leading city for cyclists and we’re proud to partner with its most celebrated event,” said Eric Min, Zwift CEO and co-Founder. “Our Prudential RideLondon course will be a smash hit with Zwift users across the world and I’m looking forward to riding with them on the virtual roads of London and Surrey!”
Zwift has also launched Prudential RideLondon Training Club, which is open to all Zwift users but is primarily aimed at helping anyone doing the sportive get some structured training and support leading up to the big day.
The Training Club begins on Wednesday 27 April and will comprise twice weekly group rides for all abilities, with structured training plans and a bespoke virtual Prudential RideLondon training kit.
“Our new partnership with Zwift means that thousands more riders from all around the globe can be part of the world’s greatest festival of cycling,” said Hugh Brasher, Event Director for Prudential RideLondon.
”We work hard to help our riders prepare for the challenge of the sportives,” said Brasher. “Taking on 100 miles can seem very daunting. We’re committed to inspiring more and more new cyclists take part which is why we’ve added the new 46 mile event this year. Our work with Zwift demonstrates the forward thinking we’re bringing to mass participation cycling.”
How popular is Zwift? Very, according to the company, which boasts that despite only launching in November 2015, it has riders from 145 countries that have so far clocked up 16 million miles between January and March 2016. It doesn’t reveal just how many people have actually subscribed to the service.
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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14 comments
will be a nice change to recognise the route. Thank you Zwift
This is a great development - very much looking forward to it. I hope the teeming metropolis that is Wimbledon (including the majestic and daunting slopes of Wimbledon Hill and the epic drag of Parkside) makes it in.
It makes sense truncating the route. One of the things that I think the Zwift people want to ensure is that there is a sufficient density of riders around you when you are on it. Seeing other riders nearby makes it much more fun. If you spread 800 or so riders (who will not all be starting at the same time) across a 100 mile course it will be pretty sparse.
I think I shall try to lobby them to do CS7 next.
And past my house almost
Riding up Newlands or Leith on my rollers will be a strange experience
I dont use it much but I do think Zwift is dam good. I might do 30k tonight for the hell of it
I agree with riot gibbon. I use bkool and have cycled 60miles in one session. You can add ghosts/bots or allow other riders join you. It's the interactive aspect which elevates the experience from a chore to enjoyment. Bkool has a lot of video based routes and this adds to the sensation of being there. The Alpine climbs come with a lot of videos, but when in a world of hurt, being able to see the road doesn't help hahaha
I feel strangely qualified to share my opinion, having actually used Zwift. It's a very different psychological experience to being a turbo normally. Once you get going, different parts of your brain take over, and you get sucked into it. Like other good video games, except this is one where you do really get some relevant exercise/training
This is the one of the great abiding attractions of bike riding, there's always someone to tell you that you're doing it all wrong, completely regardless of their actual experience and qualifications to do so!
So Zwift away if you want to, or if you don't want to - don't!
Some people were doing four, five and six-hour rides on turbo trainers before Zwift and Bkool came along, which is something special indeed
I've just updated the story. Zwift isn't creating the entire 100-mile route, just a short version of it - it hasn't released exact details on what this means yet. My guess is a route with Box Hill and Leith Hill and some of central London, with the suburban bit cut out. Which would mean I won't be able to ride past my old flat in Wimbledon. I could be completely wrong of course
How disappointing. Otherwise they could have instituted virtual SCR...
Wait, what? I can now virtually ride through Raynes Park as well as actually doing so. I need a trainer and Zwift ASAP!!!
Do I spy a rider in the main pic NOT WEARING A HELMET?!?!?!
A 100 mile sportive on a turbo sounds like hell.
100 miles on a trainer - four or five hours for even a strong rider - does indeed sound like hell.
However, have you ever tried Zwift? There are people doing century rides pretty much every day. People have done doubles, triples even. There was a guy training for RAAM on it. Don't knock what you haven't tried.
Whilst I haven't tried Zwift, I have spent hours tied to a turbo in the past. Nothing will make it more appealing for me, virtual reality based or not.
Based on my experience, Zwift makes it much more appealing. The workouts are the highlight, and the virtual world is a good distraction from watching the clock
I second this based on my experience. I rode up and over the mountain the other day, and took part in a group ride of over 60 riders on Tuesday evening for over an hour and it wasn't boring at all.
And when was the last time you rode through a sub-aqua glass tunnel where you could see dolphins?
Glad Zwift is adding more routes, Bkool has all the climbs + the full route, so if you feel like a challenge